Columbia has more than 90 miles of trails and pathways spread out over the city. All of the bridges along them now have placards with an individual alpha-numeric code.

"The alpha part -- the letters -- is the village it's in. The bridge we're standing at today is Wilde Lake, so it's 'WLBR' for bridge, and we just came up with a numbering system from north to south," explained Sean Harbaugh of the Columbia Association.

The playgrounds in Columbia have had the same type of system for years. The code acts like a street address and shows up in the mapping system used by 911 operators. That way, those using the trails can call for help in an emergency.

"(Trail users) don't have that ability to say, 'I'm at such-and-such street address,' because they're out in the open space, and this allows them to call in the nonemergency or emergency number if they're in trouble, and emergency responders know exactly where they are," Harbaugh said.

In addition to the signs, the Howard County Police Department is also increasing bike patrols and volunteer mounted patrols on the trails.

"It's an extra set of eyes and ears for the police, and it's direct communication with the Police Department and Columbia Association," Harbaugh said.

He said Columbia doesn't usually have a big problem with crime or injuries on the trails, but those who use them said it's comforting to know they have a lifeline if they need it.

"It makes me feel much safer. If I'm in trouble, and these are pinpointed around the trail, then I can tell them where I'm at so they can find me much more quickly if I were in some serious danger," said trail user Evan Fagan.

The Columbia Association said the changes are just the start of the trail improvements. It plans to put better directional signs up in the near future.